It's time for a rest. Thanks for all your support of Varsity Letters and see you in September. (Photo by Blair Shier property of Blair.photo 2022. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Boys Basketball

It’s time for a rest: Varsity Letters will begin a six-month sabbatical with a planned September return!

NORTH DELTA — Hello to my loyal and cherished readers.

I wanted to let you all know that for the first time in my career, I have decided to take an extended leave from writing.

In simple terms, by the time I finish tapping out this story, I will begin a near-six month sabbatical to rest and refresh, a period of time I hope brings me back with a clearer focus and purpose in my coverage of our high school and university sporting world.

And I couldn’t do it without telling you all how much your support of Varsity Letters and our shared community has meant to me over the years.

Varsity Letters has enjoyed its most productive months ever, despite coming back after a cancelled 2020-21 season, and that’s all I need to know that celebrating our student-athletes is something that will never go out of style.

I think, however, I need to pace myself for the rest of the journey.

I arrived at this decision over the course of the past year, with the support of not only my family and non-sports friends, but from every person I have managed to mention this to over the past few months.

All have been unwaveringly positive of this decision, and so it’s made it easier to let go. My thanks of course to Jason Winslade and the staff at Ten Feet Sports and Entertainment, who from Day 1, have believed in and supported me in my work, and have now provided me the opportunity to re-charge my batteries.

That said, I am leaving right on the eve of U SPORTS national tournaments, and the entire spring seasons of rugby, track and field, and girls high school soccer. To those coaches and athletes whom I will not cover, I hope you understand my decision and I look forward to seeing everyone in-and-around the Labour Day weekend.

Perhaps the only postings here, between now and then, will surround the finalization of teams for the 2022 Tsumura Basketball Invitational tournaments set for December.

Please take great care… and how about that cover photo? My thanks to Blair Shier for snapping that candid at the recent B.C. girls basketball tournament. The hairs have gone grey, but as far as offices go, it’s still the best one I know!

Be well everyone!

— Howard

12 thoughts on “It’s time for a rest: Varsity Letters will begin a six-month sabbatical with a planned September return!

  1. Howard,
    Thanks for your tireless and professional coverage of the BC amateur sports scene. You certainly deserve your sabbatical but rest assured you will be missed!

    1. Agreed!
      Thank you for all that you give to the athletes, their schools, their families, and their greater communities!
      Have a well-deserved rest 🙂

  2. Thank you for your dedication. I have no idea how you do it all I love reading all your stories. It is wonderful that you give so much profile to the amazing student athletes that seem to be under appreciated by other media outlets. Enjoy you well deserved and overdue break

  3. You’re a true professional and have captured BC School Sports so well over the years. Enjoy the much deserved sabbatical and best wishes

  4. Thank you for all you have done for high school sports over the past 20? 25? years, Howard. Even though I have been “out of the game” for more than 10 years now, your articles keep me apprised of the goings on and often lead me to reminisce about those 35+ years I spent coaching. Enjoy your time off, and your return will be eagerly anticipated by your many friends and followers. Cheers!

  5. It is fun to follow BC school sports even though I now live in Edmonton. Thanks for all your work and enjoy your time off

  6. Well deserved break Howard. Thank you for everything that you do to make high school and University athletics. This is the grass roots and you sir are out fertilizer.

  7. I have no idea how you manage to cover so many sports – it is nothing short of extraordinary. You more than deserve a break. Thank you for all you do my friend.

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